§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information is available to his Department in respect of the willingness of higher education institutions to admit students with vocational qualifications; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldenThe Department does not possess detailed information about the admission policies and practices of individual higher education institutions. However, recent statistical investigation, supported by a project undertaken by the further education unit, suggests that the proportion of entrants to degree level courses holding qualifications such as those of the Business and Technician Education Council varies greatly between institutions and between subject areas, being significant in subjects such as engineering and very low in most others. Information is not however available which would indicate the number of unsuccessful aspirants to degree places who hold such qualifications.
The Government wish to encourage the route to degree status via BTEC and similar qualifications, and to this end have encouraged dialogue between BTEC, the Council for National Academic Awards and the Standing Conference on University Entrance to promote a freer flow of information about the value of such qualifications, to encourage degree awarding and providing institutions to consider their holders for entry, and to identify and rectify possible barriers. It is however ultimately for those institutions to decide which candidates are best qualified for, and able to benefit from, degree level study.